USA based performance wear and gear makers that we write about...never underestimate the value of made in the USA label-especially since so many companies rely on the must be made in this country--- US military orders- for significant chunks of their income.

The fashion footwear industry-however-has shifted practically all manufacturing overseas-and even mass marketed "luxury" brands-are made in China...not in Italy, for example-and don't seem to experience a degradation in the brand's DNA... maybe.

Benni Tuscan-hand painted

BUT---a highlight at recent pr agency preview we attended---was easily the trendy and daring-stylish shoes and boots by new brand Modern Vice-that's all made in NYC-smack dab in the middle of the garment district on West 38th street.

The collection, designed by shoe prodigies- Jordan and Jensen Adoni---is crafted by some 100 talented laborers, in a Manhattan area that still offers up some of the support materials/hardware that goes into shoe production too (bonus,bonus)...and in this instance-still has the human know-how, mercifully ...as the Modern Vice label shares its DNA with ice skating brand, Klingbell Ice Skates- that custom crafts skates for Olympic Gold medal winners like Sasha Cohen.

A few weeks later-lucky us-we got the invite to actually see the West 38th street atelier...where the Adoni Group (parent company-of Modern Vice..and other brands) and its employees-hosted a packed house of well-wishers.

How this all began is quite the story---as Jay Adoni ---who immigrated to this company and pretty much opened his own NYC factory at the ripe old age of 18...and then went on to a very successful career, founding L.I. Simone in the 1970's and more recently the shoe brand Pour La Victoire in 2007.

checking the finish....

sweet-hand made suede bracelets customized with grommets, rivets...

A true believer in giving back and the trickle down/up effect of gainfully employed workers---AND a firm believer also in the disasterously negative effects of unemployment in this country...Jay Adoni has launched what he calls 3/97 Initiative...to bring back 3% of footwear manufacturing back into the USA...

At first-seemingly a modest goal---but in reality-a big deal!!!! And frankly-we think smart-as there is more control over quality, re-orders get filled in a timely fashion, and hot trends can be materialized a lot faster. And lower carbon footprint because shipping routes are localized-not oceans' wide---an eco plus too.

Each area has a targeted function-step by step (by step....).

roomful of lasts

Other brands we saw include Giraffe Walk-also made here...love these woven flats